Etiquettes

1. Every Muslim should make preparations for Jum’ah from Thursday. After the asr salah on Thursday, he should make a lot of istighfar. He should clean his clothes and keep them ready. If he does not have any perfume in his house, then if it is possible he should try and obtain some and keep it ready so that he will not get distracted with these things on the day of Jum’ah. The pious people of the past have stated that the person to receive the most benefit on Friday will be that person who waits for it and who makes preparations for it from Thursday. The most unfortunate person will be he who does not even know as to when Friday falls, so much so that he will ask the people in the morning as to which day this is. Some pious people used to stay in the masjid from the night of Jum’ah (Thursday night) in order to make full preparations for the following day.

2. On the day of Jum’ah, ghusl should be made and the hair of the head and the the body should be thoroughly washed. It is also very virtuous to use the miswaak on this day.

3. After making ghusl, a person should wear the best clothing that he possesses, and if possible he should also apply some perfume. He should also clip his nails.

4. He should try to go very early to the masjid. The earlier a person goes, the more reward he will receive. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "On the day of Jum’ah, the angels stand at the entrance of that masjid in which Jum’ah salah is to be offered. They write down the name of the person who enters the masjid first, and thereafter the name of the person who follows, and they continue doing this. The person who entered first will receive the reward of sacrificing a camel in the path of Allah, the one who followed him will get the reward of sacrificing a cow, thereafter a chicken, thereafter the reward of giving an egg as charity in the path of Allah. Once the khutbah commences, the angels close the register and begin listening to the khutbah."

In the past, the roads and alleys used to be extremely busy in the mornings and at fajr time. All the people used to go so early to the masjid and there used to be such a large crowd that it used to look like the days of eid. Aren't the Muslims ashamed of themselves that the Jews and Christians go so early in the morning to their synagogues and churches on Saturdays and Sundays. Those who are businessmen go so early to the bazaars in order to do their buying and selling. Why don't the Muslims do the same today? The reality of the situation is that the Muslims have totally diminished the value of this blessed day. They do not even know the great status it has. How sad it is that the day which was more valuable than eid in the eyes of the Muslims of the past, the day which was not granted to the previous nations, has become so neglected by Muslims today. It is such a great ingratitude to the favour of Allah.

5. By walking to the Jum’ah salah, for every step that he takes a Muslim gets the reward of fasting for one whole year.

6. On Fridays, The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to recite Surah Alif Lam Meem Sajdah and Surah Hal Ataa, in the fajr salah. These Surahs should therefore be occassionally recited in the fajr salah on Fridays. Occasionally they should be left out so that people do not regard their recitation as wajib.

7. For the Jum’ah salah, The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to recite the following Surahs: al-Jum’ah and al-Munafiqun, or al-A'la and al-Ghashiyah.

8. There is a lot of reward in reciting Surah Kahf either before the Jum’ah salah or after it. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The person who recites Surah Kahf on Fridays, a nur will appear for him from below the arsh as lofty as the skies. This light will help him in the darkness of the day of resurrection. And all the sins which he may have committed from the last Friday till this Friday will be forgiven." This refers to minor sins because major sins are not forgiven without tawbah.

9. There is more reward in reciting salawat on Fridays than on other days. It has been mentioned in the Hadith that salawat should be recited abundantly on Fridays.